World Cup diary: Italy were poor but England were worse

It used to be that England were renowned for two things: we could score from set pieces, and we knew how to defend set pieces. In fact we rarely scored from open play – but give us a corner, or a free kick, and suddenly we became dangerous. Similarly, we rarely conceded from set pieces. This was a consequence of the English game, I suppose.

Against Italy we conceded from a set piece in fairly lamentable fashion. Worse, though, was the endless parade of wasted corners and free kicks. I don’t know how many corners we had in the second half – maybe eight? Only one found the head of an England player. The free kicks were worse: someone needs to take the likeable Steven Gerard aside and tell him it ain’t 2001 any more , you can’t do it, mate. Rooney was, if anything, worse – although he provided a fine pass for Sturridge’s well-taken goal.

Raheem Sterling was excellent, so too Barkley late on. We didn’t see enough of Adam Lallana. In general, though, we were ponderous and predictable, too slow to switch the ball around, lacking a player who could provide an incisive pass in the last third, almost never doing the unexpected – which, if you disdain scoring opportunities from set pieces, is the way you get goals from open play. The unpredictable. Sterling has it, but nobody else.

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Marco

The writer of this comes across as a self-obsessed Charlie Brooker wannabe. Ironically, Charlie Brooker knows absolutely nothing about football as well

Carlo De Chiro

“I didn’t think Italy were up to much”

What are you talking about I presume you didn’t stop watching when Italy went ahead and sulked off.
Statistics show orherwise Italy dominated possession and passing, their tactics better. The England goal was good sterling amazing but Italy still were the better team.
Stop looking with what seems to be bad loser eyes and see the facts.
I agree the match could have easily been a draw, Italy defence especially in the goal could have done better but Italy always have another gear and this team under Prandelli another formation.
I think it is the most exciting England team for a long time, I still expect them to qualify but be fair and be less bias and jingoistic when you write a match report please.

Pier66

Is funny eh really strange Spectator an old conservative , right traditional mag,
with all those lefty lib lab audience and observers! And what a high profile comments!
Just to remember how is working Lib lab in EDUCATION, SCHOOLS,
specially in TH, Islington , east end lovely place where born, make friends, school, growing a family… a big thank you Tony you made a GREAT JOB

Marquess of Salisbury

If there was a parallel World Cup for cramp and over-exuberant celebrations by physios we would have a great chance! Any decent side would have prevented the first goal they were literally sold a dummy!

stag

Stop moaning, Rod, for once. England played ok.

Lucy Sky Diamonds

And Spain were even worse…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aW5pPXGrdTY Puss in High Wedgies

Well, it’s sports again: just so dang fascinating if you like that sort of thing. Personally, I shriek, scream, and grunt while playing tennis, which would be incredibly annoying except that I only do it when my partner and I have the courts to ourselves — and he’s just as bad as I am (worse: the jungle behind the last fence will have to find some way to deal with the balls he’s hit there).

To speed the blood a bit, especially if there is room to move — I can’t listen to this without dancing — can you beat this? Surely one of the best pieces of popular music in the history of the world. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ziQSNGFzlp4

girondas

Too fast for me these days – I must learn to foxtrot without treading on my partners wedges.
Watched the match at home in the company of an old french friend. At a high point in the game she looked up from her book and asked when France were playing. I said “Tomorrow”. She said “Ah, ok” and went back to her book. I like cool disdain in french girls – it suits them. I’m being nice about France at the moment as she has invited me to visit her place in August -.on the banks of the Loire.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aW5pPXGrdTY Puss in High Wedgies

Oh, I only dance in bare feet myself. Lots of nice wine from the Loire….Sounds like a great opportunity!

girondas

Oddly enough I don’t drink much when I’m in France – maybe I’m just contrary or maybe it’s just the change of routine. I go walking, with a dog if there’s one to hand. (Dogs bring you home again)
Dancing barefoot eh – you must trust your partner.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aW5pPXGrdTY Puss in High Wedgies

What a contrast: I can’t imagine being in the Loire and not sampling, extensively, their local goods. Heh heh. I have a dog hanging off my hand most hours. Would be nice not to tend the little darling. And dancing: that’s the benefit of dancing on my own.

girondas

A couple of days leave – wonderful. Early summer in the garden is the best of times. Drinking white wine, constructing stuffed peppers for supper, Mozart on the hi-fi, searching for the cats (asleep under a rosemary bush). Hope you’re enjoying the smoky mountains.
Maybe I’ll try dancing single handed.
The other week I saw a couple in their seventies, maybe older, jiving as a girl sang the Boogie-woogie bugle boy from company B – impressed

Pier66

Rod you drink too much during the match stop it next time please

rodliddle

you must be joking.

Kitty MLB

Roddie, you must drink beer and eat crisps whilst
watching football. Rather like strawberries and cream
with wine at Wimbledon. Its traditional.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aW5pPXGrdTY Puss in High Wedgies

What I like is the run-on sentence, without punctuation, rather like a poison pen note from cut-out newsprint in an Agatha Christie. Next time if you’re lucky it might be: Rod I know what you and that girl were doing Don’t let England destract you next time you never know whose watching A well-wisher

Kitty MLB

Oh excellent.. Whilst Roddie watches England playing in
his slight inebriated state.
A poison pen letter is dropped through his letter box, playing
havoc with those watching football. Where Roddie lives once
a place of trust, now all inhabitants are potential culprits. Who
is sending there suspicious notes from the old Guardian
cut outs and why?
Roddie send for Miss Marple.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aW5pPXGrdTY Puss in High Wedgies

Heh heh! Who is sending them? Team Italy, probably.

girondas

Do you think that Rod’s drinking may have affected the team’s performance?

Pier66

England performance was very good for me, Rod has another point view that must be respect, end of the story
YNWA & TORY ALL THE WAY

girondas

But they lost – c’mon let’s blame Rod.

Pier66

No at all you should respect every single points view

Kitty MLB

And the country of my grandfathers birth
even better.English are good at Cricket.
You are a Tory, we must preserve you.

Pier66

Yes preserve me with other more then 11 million in Britain thanks

Fraser Bailey

I have money on England not making it out of the group.

I think my mone is safe.

arnoldo87

For years now, England have been technically inferior to the top teams, unable to receive the ball under challenge, control it, and pass it on. The top teams know this and therefore put us under pressure when we have the ball, forcing us to eventually lump it forwards, thus yielding possession.

This situation applied throughout the “Golden Generation” period, but most of the country were in denial, thinking that our top players were world class, when the truth was that they didn’t work hard enough at their ball skills and technique.

At long last, though, we are starting to get younger players in to the team that DO have the necessary skills. So last night was a better performance, although not quite good enough to hold a fairly (for them) average Italian team.

We could still qualify for the knockout round though. Some grounds for hope, yet.

Lucy Sky Diamonds

Tell us something new. The Netherlands are going to win the cup.

disqus_JXTaH3N9kU

Italy were good and that was the best England performance i have seen for a very long time. Good for Hodgson in picking Sterling too. No other England manager inrecent memory would have done so.

alb et

Don’t you like or pasta?

alb et

Don’t you like our pasta?

alexander

you can delete or edit the first comment rather than posting another.

alexander

On the face of it it seemed like we showed them too much respect and didn’t close them down enough as we had done to the opposition in the preceding friendlies. Although I suspect the heat had a large part to play and roy had instructed england to conserve energy. Unfortunately this tactic suited the slow Italian game and they therefore edged it.

If the temperature had been 5 degrees cooler we could have dictated the game and closed them down more and might have edged it.

Aberrant_Apostrophe

Most of the time England were like a puppy chasing a car: purposeful, noisy and excited – but not knowing what to do once they managed to catch it.

FrankS2

Why has the bloke in the blue shirt got one blue boot and one red one? Maybe non-matching footwear is the secret of success.

Aberrant_Apostrophe

So his team mates can shout “Hit it with the blue one! No, the other blue one!”

FrankS2

P.chi ki wan wrote:
“The blue boots are for home games,red boots for away games.As its the
world cup,the matches are neither home or away hence the different
boots.On the other he could just be an attention seeking tw*t”
but for some reason it’s been called in by the moderators. Anyway, I shall now be forced to look at player’s feet (and I meant to ignore the event) to see how many do this. Maybe iit’s just an Italy thing

P.chi ki wan

Thanks Frank,strange decision by moderstors.I have already noticed lots of players from various teams with odd coloured boots,its become rather distracting.It was rather amusing to see one player get quite upset when the referee sprayed the new disappearing paint on his boots.

JEK68

What a complete misreading of the game, England outplayed Italy and played more excitingly than they have for the last ten years at least. If we play like that against Uruguay we should batter them.

you_kid

My Italian friends weren’t hoping for an end of a era, they just could not wait for the end of one simple game.
But not to worry, it’s all good – of the four teams in our group, only two teams remain that could find themselves sent home without banking a single point.

Max07

I suppose Rooney did set up a goal but other than that he was useless. He seldom plays well for England. Perhaps he should have been left at home to tend his hair transplants.

Fraser Bailey

Oddly, it is since his hair transplant that Rooney’s play has deteriorated.

It’s a kind of reverse Samson effect.

Max07

I have this theory that he’s afraid to exert himself too much in case it has a detrimental effect on his barnet.

MikeF

We were overloaded with forwards at the expense of midfield creativity – one or other of Welbeck or Rooney should not have started to allow room for Lallana – and both fullbacks were poor. Sterling also needs to play at least ten yards in from the touchline to give himself room to manouevre. It all makes Thursday’s match utterly crucial for both teams.

Pier66

Italy were poor but England were worse…Rod which match did you watch?
You must be joking…first half England dominate the game missed some good chances, a penalty on welback dont given, italy comes out only at the 44′ with ballotelli chance and candreva hit the post…
then 2 half another BIG penalty on SG do not given….so please what do you talking about…is the same old story same old music…only I can agree that we missed too chances.. but ref was DISGUSTING
YNWA AND TORY ALL THE WAY

FrankieThompson

What time is the spaceship arriving tonight ? Usual place ?

Baron

Baron’s still chuckling, Frankie, and he read your posting an hour ago.

Hexhamgeezer

Agreed – I quite liked the game. We exceeded low expectations and showed grounds for optimism for the next Euros.

Hexhamgeezer

Agreed – I quite liked the game. We exceeded low expectations and showed grounds for optimism for the next Euros.

Pier66

Hex and something, you’re a little bit SARCASTIC…..
you just give up soon , think about next Euros?
I think you should show more positive approch in your LIFE!
YNWA AND TORY ALL THE WAY

Hexhamgeezer

I enjoyed the game – pleasant suprise. I thought we were OK.

No sarcasm involved.

Pier66

You are not a real good english fan, I mean this is my opinion

global city

I enjoyed the game. Italy are better than England, but the attacking emphasis will deliver much for England in the future.

Baron

Good summary, Rod, except for this. In the first half, and most of the start of the second, we didn’t close them up, just danced around them at a respectable distance (Welbeck and Sterling may have tried, but not enough), they had all the time in the world to look around, pass the ball undisturbed, it was mostly their mistakes that stopped them.

And you’re absolutely right on Rooney, how could anyone pick this brainless, slow moving, overpaid baboon, regard him as the anchor of the team beggars belief. Except for the one occasion you refer to, he never hit the goal, and the corner kick?

If we keep on playing like this, we will be lucky to finish fourth in the group.

P.chi ki wan

Woy not only picked Rooney he then decided to play him out of position.Reminds me of Brazil 1998 when a clearly unfit Ronaldo was played,could there be other forces choosing certain players.

Kitty MLB

Oh I cannot tell Baron how much I loath that witless,
moron and neanderthal Wayne Rooney and when Baron
mentioned his name I was instantly turned off the brunch
I was about to make.He doesn’t look as if he has the energy
to make a jelly wobble let alone kick a ball.
And how did he find such a pretty and savvy wife.

Adam Carter

It’s a mystery, isn’t it,
how women are attracted to rich and successful men.

Kitty MLB

I am sure even the most shallow money obsessed woman would have standards.His
wife even had children with him. Some of
us prefer those who are unconventional,
humourous, wise , kind and attractive…
unfortunately money cannot buy those qualities.

rtj1211

I’m sure you grew up in circumstances as challenging as Mr and Mrs Rooney did.

He made the most of what he had.

Can you say the same for yourself?

global city

They have been boyfriend and girlfriend since their school days.

First L

Yet he cheated on her with prostitutes.

global city

Yes. That wasn’t the question posed however.

A more salient question would have been ‘why does she stay with him?’ Could it be his good looks, or charm or loyalty?

Max07

I wonder what first attracted her to the millionaire Wayne Rooney.

girondas

Wait till we run into Costa Rica – oh my!

Kitty MLB

Assuming they beat the other Latin Americans tomorrow.
Oh the stress this is causing my hubby and all poor men,
living on the edge of their seats, pale figures and shadows
of their former self…I wander around saying BOO
and they jump out of their skin….its hilerious.
Shall see what tomorrow brings as they say in the old
song…hope tissues, tea and sympathy will not be required.

girondas

I don’t think you’re taking our distress very seriously Kitty

Kitty MLB

Not true. I speak for all women when I say the
Words of that serpent Blair : We feel your pain.
Even have many boxes of Kleenex man sized
tissues.We know chaps cry alot happy or sad,
none of that stiff upper lip stuff anymore..l

girondas

I assure you that my lip is fully and permanently stiffed

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aW5pPXGrdTY Puss in High Wedgies

Sorry to barge in on your conversation with Kitty — but I never did understand that stiff UPPER lip talk. Surely it’s the bottom lip that quivers? Have you ever tried to keep your upper lip stiff? It’s a meaningless idea, as no one can do it and nothing would be gained if he could!

Update: Experimenting for a moment (yes, one feels a right fool!), all I can think is that it refers to a rigidness of the face while speaking. The upper lip need not move that much during speech, though the lower jaw must, so maybe what’s being referred to is not actually the lip but a larger area of the face. So the ‘stiff upper lip’ is not so much an attitude of mind but a social put-on, a facade for the benefit of others while speaking to them — or (perhaps ominously) while giving orders.

girondas

Ah! Puss we just lost – again.My entire face is rigid, a facade indeed. I hope Kitty is consoling Mr Kitty.
Me? I’m going to bed: I spent the whole daily working down the allotment and this is my reward.

Kitty MLB

I am now..but all is not lost.Italiano will save the
day, by winning twice.But I see you wish to
be alone during this difficult moment hence
being known as ‘ Guest’ All will be well, my
sage has told me.

Kitty MLB

Athough I didn’t actually watch this myself, the husband did though and not too impressed by all the noise.
As English with a wee bit of Italian blood I would been torn.

girondas

I doubt it would have set your blood racing: I fell asleep during the match and I’m 100% anglo jewish cross.

Kitty MLB

No it wouldn’t have set my blood racing, even the
Latin drop of blood. Just read a spot of Ovid in the
bath and tended the hedgehog.
Oh, 100% anglo jewish cross sounds like a unusual
combination. And the word ‘cross’ made me laugh
I thought of a canine with mixed parentage.
I am glad the tennis starts next week and we’ll see
the lovely Roger Federer.

girondas

“Oh, 100% anglo jewish cross sounds like a unusual
combination. And the word ‘cross’ made me laugh
I thought of a canine with mixed parentage”.

It’s my cockney humour Kitty – thirty years in polite Cambridge society and it still pops out (often to my embarrassment).
Ovid in the bath eh? – That’s a strangely attractive thought.

Kitty MLB

Never be embarrassed by the cockney humour
its warm and genuine. ‘Polite Cambridge Society’ I suppose the humour in Cambridge is
as flat as the Fens. Mine is somewhat ludicrous, drives people up the wall.

‘Ovid in the bath eh?- that’s a strangely attractive thought’ Now how long have you
had these thoughts about Ovid? I know
I have to handle this very gently.If you
want to go somewhere quiet on the Spectator
to unburden these feelings that will be fine.

girondas

“I know I have to handle this very gently.If you
want to go somewhere quiet on the Spectator
to unburden these feelings that will be fine.”

What are you suggesting Kitty?

Kitty MLB

I know that I am somewhat talkative but I’m
also a very good listener. I am suggesting that
if you want to reveal hidden thoughts of Ovid
or indeed shakespeare, it should be done
somwhere more quiet. Such as the Lucy Vickery
poetry threads ( such as a few weeks ago)
Only about 5 people turned up on that thread,
and you can have my undivided attention.
Unless its too soon, I fully understand.

girondas

Kitty I’m all a fluster

Kitty MLB

My Sibylline intuition could sense your perturbation. Women
and children are like sponges. As my old chum Shakespeare
once said: So quick bright things come to confusion.
So sorry you are tying yourself into knots, do not distress
yourself, you will be disentangled. Some of us are very good
with confused puzzles. Have that in common with dear
Albert, besides never being able to think of nothing, odd
socks and wild hair, although unlike his, mine happens
to be chestnut corkscrews.
PS I hope you will not be flustered for too long and I shall
find Cameron to give you one of his hug a husky hugs.